Home & Garden6 mins ago
Soakaway
12 Answers
Help please. I have a soak away which seems to have failed. The down pipe is completely full of water. When it rains, the water pours over the pipe, and down the walls of the house. I priced a new soak away but the price was high. I have spoken to a builder who says that there should be a u bend somewhere underneath and it may be blocked. The question is, dig down, or get new guttering (if that would solve the problem)
Your advice would be appreciated. Many thanks.
Your advice would be appreciated. Many thanks.
Answers
Best Answer
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.New guttering won't solve this. What generally happens is leaves that have fallen into the gutter get washed into the downpipe then lodge at the L bend at the bottom where the pipe turns horizontal. If you can remove the downpipe, you may be able to get access to pull enough of the debris out. Fit a mesh cap over the top of all downpipes to prevent leaves getting down there in the first place. Far easier to remove them from the top of the pipe than the base.
Could you find a handyperson to help you at this stage rather than a builder?
Someone who adertises locally to help with gardens and general outdoor jobs who can clear the downpipe and the elbow at the bottom and put a mesh cap in the guttering as suggested above. I fear the builder you spoke to on the phone might be looking for a more substantial project.
Someone who adertises locally to help with gardens and general outdoor jobs who can clear the downpipe and the elbow at the bottom and put a mesh cap in the guttering as suggested above. I fear the builder you spoke to on the phone might be looking for a more substantial project.
It does sound like an ordinary bung-up with leaves, Bobbi.
I guess there's no trapped gulley at the bottom of the downpipe.
Just excavate around the pipe where it goes underground. Dismantle everything and clean out. Unless the house is very old, I doubt if the soakaway has stopped working. They tend to just get slower and slower with age, not fail suddenly.
I guess there's no trapped gulley at the bottom of the downpipe.
Just excavate around the pipe where it goes underground. Dismantle everything and clean out. Unless the house is very old, I doubt if the soakaway has stopped working. They tend to just get slower and slower with age, not fail suddenly.
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